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American football is on everyone's minds right now thanks to the impending Super Bowl, but fascinating things are afoot in the world of association football, too.

According to a statement released by game developer Sports Interactive, Football Manager 25 will not be released in March, like it was supposed to be. It's not being delayed, either, as it was already delayed from November 2024 to March. Instead, it's being canceled entirely, with development efforts being refocused on the next edition of the annual soccer management simulation.

SEE ALSO: Google faked a Gemini AI answer in its Super Bowl commercial

While Football Manager may not have the same name recognition in the U.S. as something like Madden, it's a very popular series for hardcore fans of soccer, focused more on roster management and scouting than in-game skill. It's also been released continuously under that name near the end of every calendar year since 2004; Football Manager 25 being delayed into March was already anomalous by series standards.

As Polygon pointed out, this will be the first year without a Football Manager since the series started. It's incredibly unusual for popular, annually released sports games to get canceled, but Sports Interactive was doing a lot of work to Football Manager 25 that made it understandably hard to finish on time. The interface and visuals were set for an overhaul, and women's soccer was to be included for the first time.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until the next release to see any of that stuff.

As we sit around waiting for Super Bowl LIX to start, a Google commercial set to run during the big game has come under fire again.

In a Super Bowl commercial theoretically designed to extoll the virtues of its Gemini AI chatbot, Google actually faked the AI part, according to The Verge. The ad, in which a business called Wisconsin Cheese Mart uses Gemini to come up with a product description for gouda, shows a paragraph-long block of text about gouda that was actually lifted directly from Wisconsin Cheese Mart's website, as seen on the Wayback Machine going back at least as far as 2020:

"Gouda is a Dutch cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption. Smoked Gouda is a variant of this famous cheese, smoked in brick ovens over flaming hickory chip embers. This sweet curd is similar to Edam except that it contains more milk fat, which gives it a creamier texture and causes it to become more buttery with age. Sensational with beer, this cows milk cheese has an edible, smokey brown rind and a creamy, yellow interior."

SEE ALSO: Google Search 'AI Mode' has started internal testing, report says

In case you were wondering, Gemini came into existence three entire years after that block of text was written, and it is copied and pasted verbatim into the commercial as if Gemini wrote it. This starts to look even worse for Gemini when you consider that the same commercial had to be quietly edited because one part that Gemini did include on its own, a stat about gouda being the most widely consumed cheese in the world, turned out to be fake.

So, in other words, the piece of Gemini text that's true was actually written by a human several years ago, and the only part of it that Gemini contributed itself was a falsehood. There has to be a better way to advertise generative AI than this.

PlayStation console owners who wanted to play online games got a rude start to the weekend.

Users started reporting widespread PlayStation Network outages in the early evening on Friday, per Down Detector (a service owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable).

These things typically don't last for an especially long time, which made it all the more interesting that the outage, at least for some, persisted into Saturday morning. PlayStation's official server status page says their services are experiencing issues as of Saturday morning, and at the same time, my PS5 won't load my online friends list.

SEE ALSO: Review: Technics AZ100 Earbuds easily beat the likes of Sony and Bose

This can present all sorts of problems. Obviously, if PSN isn't working, you can't play (or can't easily play, anyway) online games, but it can also potentially block users from playing digitally purchased games. I haven't personally had that problem yet, but it can happen.

Hopefully, Sony fixes this so people who don't care about football can enjoy their weekends.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, February 8, 2025:

AcrossBeer foam

• The answer is Head.

Dance that it takes "two" to do

• The answer is Tango.

Annoying thing to forget on a trip

• The answer is Charger.

Color associated with Barbie

• The answer is Hot pink.

"For all ___ and purposes …"

• The answer is Intents.

Maryland governor Wes

• The answer is Moore.

Cons' counterparts

• The answer is Pros.

DownOldest monthly magazine in the U.S., launched in 1850

• The answer is Harpers.

Front car of a train

• The answer is Engine.

Athlete's representative

• The answer is Agent.

Nerds

• The answer is Dorks.

Body image?

• The answer is Tattoos.

Bonobo relative

• The answer is Chimp.

Pay tribute to

• The answer is Honor.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Astrobiologists in Germany are developing a new testing device that could help tease dormant alien microbes into revealing themselves — and its key ingredient is a common amino acid that’s found in abundance inside human blood.

"L-serine, this particular amino acid that we used, [...] we can build it in our bodies, ourselves," researcher Max Riekeles, who is helping to develop the alien-hunting device, told Mashable.

The compound is also prevalent across Earth’s oceans and even down near the dark and otherworldly ecosystems that surround deep sea hydrothermal vents, where life evolved far away from anywhere it could feed itself via photosynthesis. NASA investigators too have found L-serine and similar “proteinogenic” amino acids — which are vital to many organisms’ ability to synthesize their own proteins — buried within meteorites. These and other discoveries have left scientists wondering if any off-world amino acids might have once helped life evolve elsewhere out in the cosmos.

"It could be a simple way to look for life on future Mars missions," according to Riekeles, who trained as an aerospace engineer at the Technical University of Berlin, where he now works on extraterrestrial biosignature research. 

“But, it’s always, of course, the basic question: 'Was there ever life there?'"

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

Riekeles and his team’s device benefits from a phenomena called "chemotaxis," the mechanism whereby microbes, including many species of bacteria as well as another whole domain of microscopic organisms called archaea, migrate in response to nearby chemicals.  

Years of research has shown that many tiny organisms have a strong preference for "moving up the L-serine gradient" towards higher L-serine concentrations. This fact led Riekeles and his colleagues to develop their test kit with two chambers divided by a thin, semi-porous membrane: The first chamber would take in a sample from another world, while the second video-monitored chamber would hold a tantalizing concentration of L-serine in water.

“But, it’s always, of course, the basic question: 'Was there ever life there?'"

Granted, the idea of studying single-celled organisms just by watching them move around goes all the way back to the earliest days of microbiology, when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek submitted the first paper on these little beings to London’s Royal Society in 1676. 

"Advances in hardware and software the last few years really bring up the really old fashioned way of doing experiments with visual observations," Riekeles said, "especially when you combine it with big data, machine learning and so on."

A graphic of Mars' Valles Marineris, where robotic missions could seek out potential microbes in briny environments. Credit: NASA / JPL / Arizona State University

For their latest experiments, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Riekeles and his co-researchers focused on three "extremophile" species capable of surviving and thriving in some of Earth’s harshest conditions. Each candidate was selected to approximate the kinds of tiny alien lifeforms that might really live on an inhospitable outer space world — like Mars’ cosmic ray-blasted, desert surface or Jupiter’s icy, watery moons: Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

"The bacteria Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, P. halo, it survives in really cold temperatures, for example," Riekeles told Mashable, "and it’s also tolerant of salty environments."

"And the salty environment, when it comes to Mars, is interesting because there are presumed to be a lot of salts on the Martian surface," he added.

In addition to the microbe P. halo, which was harvested from the oceans off Antarctica and can grow happily at below-freezing temperatures as low as 27.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.5 degrees Celsius), the team also tested the bacterial spore Bacillus subtilis and archaeon Haloferax volcanii. A form of gut bacteria found across animal species, B. subtilis develops a protective shell capable of enduring temperatures up to 212 F (100 C). And H. volcanii, found in the Dead Sea and other heavily salted areas, can withstand aggressive radiation exposures, drawing frequent comparisons between it and hypothetical Martian microbes.

"It’s not only salt tolerant," Riekeles noted. "If you don’t put it into an environment where there is salt, it won’t survive."

A culture of Haloferax volcanii bacteria. Credit: Granitehead1 / Wikimedia Commons

All three microbes in the study moved from the sample chamber into the test chamber with the L-serine at a fast clip. Within an hour, each produced a "cell density" of roughly 200 percent more microbes in the test chambers that contained about 1.5 grams of L-sirene per liter of water. What's more, B. subtilis climbed to 400 percent more bacteria during tests that doubled the concentration of L-serine molecules.

"We tried, also, other substances, like glucose and ribose," Riekeles added, "but L-serine was, for these three organisms, the most potent."

However, Dirk Schulze-Makuch — a professor of planetary habitability at the Technical University in Berlin, who worked with Riekeles on this project — cautioned that challenges still remain before a device like this can touch down on the Martian surface.

"One big problem," Schulze-Makuch wrote for the website Big Think, "is finding a spot that’s accessible to a lander but where liquid water might also exist." 

"The Southern Highlands of Mars would meet these conditions," he said. Another possibility would be low-altitude spots on Mars like the floor of the expansive canyon Valles Marineris or inside caves, where "atmospheric pressures are sufficient to support liquid (salty) water."

After helping President Trump get elected, Elon Musk was poised to dominate the country’s A.I. policies. Then Mr. Altman sneaked into the White House.

Other big technology companies have been boisterous in their courtship of the new administration. But Nvidia and Microsoft have avoided the Washington spotlight.

TL;DR: Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Utah Jazz head to Intuit Dome to face the LA Clippers in a Western Conference matchup. The Jazz are 12-37, which puts the team in 14th place. The Clippers are 28-22, which puts the team in sixth place.

The Jazz have lost three of their last five games, but are coming off a win over the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers have also lost three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.

When is Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers?

Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

How to watch Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Jazz vs. Clippers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Jazz vs. Clippers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Denver Nuggets head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference matchup. The Nuggets are 32-19, which puts the team in fourth place. The Suns are 25-25, which puts the team in 10th place.

The Nuggets have won four of their last five games, and all of those wins have come consecutively. The Suns have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and back-to-back games to the Portland Trail Blazers.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns?

Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA starts at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Nuggets vs. Suns basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Suns from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Boston Celtics head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are 36-15, which puts the team in second place. The Knicks are 34-17, which puts the team in third place.

The Celtics have won four of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks have also won four of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets.

When is Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks?

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This game will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Celtics vs. Knicks basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Celtics vs. Knicks from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Golden State Warriors head to United Center to face the Chicago Bulls in a non-conference matchup. The Warriors are 25-25, which puts the team in 11th place in the Western Conference. The Bulls are 22-30, which puts the team in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Warriors have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Utah Jazz. The Bulls have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

When is Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls?

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at United Center in Chicago.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Warriors vs. Bulls basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Warriors vs. Bulls from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Houston Rockets head upstate to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets are 32-18, which puts the team in third place. The Mavs are 26-25, which puts the team eighth place.

The Rockets have lost four of their last five games, and all of those losses have come consecutively. The Mavs have lost three of their last five games, and all of those losses have come consecutively. The team is still seeking its first win since the trade of Luka Doncic.

The Rockets and the Mavs have faced off twice this season. The Rockets have come out on top in both of those matchups.

When is Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks?

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA starts at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 8. This game takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Rockets vs. Mavs basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Rockets vs. Mavs from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

It's certain that recently discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 will swing close to Earth in 2032. The chances of an impact remain low — but with relatively limited observations so far, the odds are in flux.

On Jan. 31, the collision impact probability was 1.4 percent. As of Feb. 7, NASA reports it's 2.3 percent, which also means a 97.7 percent chance of missing our humble blue world. But don't be surprised if that number climbs higher: It's normal for the impact odds to increase before falling or disappearing completely.

"It's not surprising the percentage went up," Bruce Betts, an astronomer and the chief scientist at The Planetary Society, an organization promoting space exploration, told Mashable.

"When you see the impact odds go up, it doesn't give you a good feeling," Betts added. "But there's much more likelihood that it's okay."

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 — spotted by a telescope from the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System — has been deemed an object worthy of close monitoring because of its size. " Currently, no other known large asteroids have an impact probability above 1 percent," the space agency explained. It's between 130 to 300 feet wide, enough to be dubbed a "city-killer" asteroid — if it indeed hit a city. (For reference, the asteroid that hit Arizona 50,000 years ago and created the 600-foot-deep "Meteor Crater" was 100 to 170 feet, or 30 to 50 meters, across. "A similar-size impact event today could destroy a city the size of Kansas City," David Kring, an impact cratering expert at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, explained in a NASA blog.)

Telescopes will refine the asteroid's orbit around the solar system over the coming months, until it travels too far away to observe (it will return again in 2028). And this added information may likely, though temporarily, boost its Earth impact odds. That's because the asteroid's risk corridor or area of uncertainty around Earth will shrink as astronomers can better define its orbit. But as long as Earth remains in that estimated hazard area — like a catcher's mitt awaiting a high-speed baseball — its relative odds of getting hit increases as the possible range of uncertainty shrinks.

"Earth is taking up a bigger percentage of that uncertain area," Betts explained. "So the impact percentage goes up."

"This is a real threat. But it's not very common that it happens."

Yet space is vast. And at the same time the area of uncertainty is shrinking, more observations reveal and shift where exactly this zone of uncertainty is. The shrinking area typically moves off of Earth, meaning our planet is no longer in that potential impact area. This happened with the asteroid Apophis — a 1,100-foot-wide behemoth that once had a small chance of impacts in both 2029 and 2036. But more precise telescope observations moved Apophis' range of trajectory off of Earth. The impact probability then plummeted.

"It dropped to zero," Betts said.

"It’s a funny thing about homing in on an asteroid and calculating its path, future position, and probability of impacting Earth – it will often appear risky during initial observations, get riskier, and then suddenly become entirely safe," the European Space Agency noted.

Tweet may have been deleted

In the unlikely scenario that the large asteroid does hit Earth, such an event won't necessarily spell doom. Over 70 percent of the planet is covered in ocean, meaning there's a good chance of a relatively remote impact. And if it were headed to a populated region, you'd have plenty of notice. Space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency, along with organizations like the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), would vigilantly monitor the menacing object. If necessary, NASA would issue its first-ever asteroid warning. People could be evacuated from vulnerable regions.

In the future, with enough foresight, humanity could choose to launch a spacecraft that could impact such an asteroid, and nudge it off its Earth-bound course. NASA has already successfully achieved such an intentional impact during its unprecedented DART mission in 2022. But this was only a test on the non-threatening asteroid Dimorphos; it's not a ready-to-launch technology.

It remains unlikely that Earth and asteroid 2024 YR4 will be at the same place, at the same time, on December 22, 2032. But don't be alarmed if the impact odds go up.

"This is a real threat," said Betts. "But it's not very common that it happens."

The position and predicted orbit of asteroid 2024 YR4 (white dot and oval) as of Jan. 31, 2025. Credit: NASA The risks of an asteroid impact

Here are today's general risks from asteroids or comets both tiny and very large. Importantly, even relatively small rocks can still be threatening, as the surprise 56-foot (17-meter) rock that exploded over Russia and blew out people's windows in 2013 proved.

• Every single day about 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles fall through Earth's atmosphere and promptly burn up.

• Every year, on average, an "automobile-sized asteroid" plummets through our sky and explodes, according to NASA.

• Impacts by objects around 460 feet (140 meters wide) in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.

• A "dinosaur-killing" impact from a rock perhaps a half-mile across or larger happens on 100-million-year timescales.

On June 24, 2022 , the U.S. Supreme Court — led by a conservative majority — chose to repeal the privacy rights afforded to all Americans by overturning the landmark precedent enshrined in Roe v. Wade. Its immediate effect relegated the right of abortion access to the states, effectively threatening reproductive health services for millions of people. 

In the years since, and with the nation now led by a presidential administration seeking to wage war on "elective" abortion, reproductive health care has transformed from an enshrined right to a political bargaining chip. Between 2020 and March 2024, 42 abortions clinics and reproductive health centers shut down. National abortion funds have endured, continuing to provide financial and logistic services to populations who now have to travel beyond state lines for abortion care, as well as to those for whom the services are much more difficult to access within their own communities. Sales of emergency contraception have skyrocketed, too, ballooning once more in the wake of the 2024 election results and on inauguration day. 

President Trump has invoked the Hyde Amendment to justify the loss of reproductive health funding nationwide and pledged to return the "issue of life," or what his recent executive order refers to as "violations of faith and conscience," to the states. Just mere days after he was sworn into office, Trump pardoned 23 people who had been convicted of violating the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The bill protects reproductive health services from threats of force, obstruction, and property damage, including blocking physical access to abortion clinics, breaking into facilities, stealing fetal tissue, and accosting pregnant patients.

Violence against abortion providers has been on the rise, as well. "Since 1977, there have been 11 murders, 42 bombings, 200 arsons, 531 assaults, 492 clinic invasions, 375 burglaries, and thousands of other incidents of criminal activities directed at patients, providers, and volunteers," reports the National Abortion Federation.

SEE ALSO: I'm quitting Instagram. You should too.

And now, with Big Tech's leaders cozying up with the new administration and instituting regressive, conservative policies across their platforms, abortion providers and reproductive justice advocates are facing an increasingly hostile online environment, as well. Aid Access, one of the country's largest providers of emergency contraception, accused Meta of obscuring search results and censoring posts containing images and information on medication-based abortion. Other abortion and reproductive justice pages have been removed from search results for various periods of time, and Meta has confirmed it suspended accounts and removed related content. 

Federally, the Trump administration has moved to erase resources on reproductive health and other inclusive medical care provided on government sites, including modifying obstetric guides to contraceptive options. With fears of misinformation and censorship on social media growing, and support for reproductive health care at risk, the fight for abortion access may have to move offline — or, at least, off the For You Page.

Mapping the state of abortion access in the U.S.Center for Reproductive Rights Abortion Laws Map

The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global, human-rights based coalition of attorneys and reproductive health advocates. Their U.S. Abortion Laws Map provides an overview of the legal landscape for abortion seekers in each state, and can be filtered by specific laws or regulations.

Credit: Center for Reproductive Rights Guttmacher Institute's Interactive Law Map

The Guttmacher Institute is a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world. The institute's Interactive Law Map is a consistently updated overview of the most protective and most hostile state abortion laws — individuals can search the institute's database by specific state or policy, such as total abortion bans, constitutional protections, state abortion care funds, or shield laws for providers.

Credit: Guttmacher Institute Noise for Now Clinic Map

Noise for Now is a non-profit organization that organizes benefit concerts and artist collaborations that raise funds for reproductive justice. The organization's interactive map locates Planned Parenthood Health Centers, independent abortion clinics (vetted as part of the Abortion Care Network, National Abortion Federation), and abortion funds for reproductive health seekers across the country.

Fake Clinic (AKA "Crisis Pregnancy Centers") Maps

Crisis Pregnancy Center Map monitors and documents organizations created by anti-abortion groups that purport to offer reproductive health care centers, also known as "crisis pregnancy centers," "anti-abortion centers," "fake clinics," or "pregnancy resource centers." The group's interactive online map allows abortion seekers to find and avoid locations that may divert them from having abortions.

Expose Fake Clinics, with support from groups like NARAL Pro-Choice America and Abortion Access Front, maintains a database of "crisis pregnancy centers" organized by state. Abortion and reproductive justice organization Reproaction also monitors and documents anti-abortion pregnancy centers.

Credit: Crisis Pregnancy Center Map Abortion travel times by congressional district

Nonpartisan policy institute the Center for American Progress has turned national data on reproductive health access into an interactive map displaying the average travel times for individuals seeking abortions in each state. It is organized based on congressional district and was last updated in January 2025.

Credit: Center for American Progress Abortion and emergency contraception accessI Need An A 

Launched in 2016, I Need an A is "the first comprehensive, regularly updated, and personalized resource for abortion seekers in the U.S.," the site explains. Partnered with organizations like Abortion Care Network, Apiary for Practical Support, and National Network of Abortion Funds, the platform connects abortion seekers with local (or the nearest) clinics — prioritizing user data privacy.

National Network of Abortion Funds

The National Network of Abortion Funds is a network of more than 100 abortion funds that provide financial support for abortion seekers around the country. The coalition offers grants, leadership, and technical assistance to local funds. Abortion seekers can use the site to answer questions like insurance coverage and connect with local financial assistance.

Abortion Finder

Abortion Finder is a comprehensive abortion information and resource platform that is operated by the nonprofit Power to Decide and its digital reproductive health platform Bedsider. Abortion Finder offers clinic maps, provider databases, funding and emotional support resources, as well as general information on abortion. Individuals can also find state by state guides to abortion access.

Abortion On Our Own Terms

Part of a national campaign to change the way self-managed abortion is discusses and regulated, Abortion On Our Own Terms connects individuals to secure (and culturally-sensitive) information on at-home abortion options, such as medical abortion, and menstruation tracking. Self-managed abortion with pills remains one of the most common forms of abortion.

Plan C

Plan C, started as a public health campaign, provides up-to-date information on how to access at-home abortion pill options online and by mail. Collating legal information, telehealth services, and online vendors, Plan C lays out the current state of medical abortion access.

You Always Have Options 

A central resource hub created by I Need an A, Shout Your Abortion, Plan C, and abortion chatbot Charley for individuals who live in states where abortion is restricted. You Always Have Options collates links for finding providers, emergency contraception options, and resources for securing your digital privacy, acting as a one-stop shop for essential answers to reproductive justice questions.

Identity-based and regional resources Asking for a Friend

A California-based, youth-focused platform that offers a variety of mental and reproductive health resources, Asking for a Friend provides practical and decision-making support to abortion seekers, including in-person and at-home options.

"The health services that we direct people to are compiled resources that we have found ourselves, that have been recommended by young people, Power to Decide (which also powers Abortionfinder.org & Bedsider), LGBTQ+ centers, as well as publicly available state data sets about providers who participate in safety net programs," the platform explained to Mashable.

Reproductive Agency Honoring Impacted Muslims (RAHIM)

An ongoing initiative from HEART — a Muslim-led national reproductive justice organization tackling gender-based violence, sexual health, and reproductive health — RAHIM seeks to provide culturally relevant resources and support to Muslim abortion seekers.

Right to an abortion for immigrants

The National Immigration Law Center offers guidance and a Know-Your-Rights guide for immigrant populations seeking abortion and reproductive health care. According to the center, undocumented people are not disqualified from seeking and obtaining an abortion based on their immigration status, although many providers may require photo ID.

Indigenous Women Rising (Rain Fund) 

Indigenous Women Rising fights for equitable and culturally safe health options for indigenous communities, including abortion, midwifery, and doula care. The organization's abortion fund (Rain Fund) is available to all Native and Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada.

Medical and legal supportNational Abortion Hotline

How to get in contact:

Call 1-800-772-9100

Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. ET

Weekends, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. ET

Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline

How to get in contact:

Call or text 1-833-246-2632

Everyday, 8 A.M. ET to 1 A.M. ET

All Options Talkline

How to get in contact:

Call 1-888-493-0092

Monday to Friday, 10 A.M. to 1 A.M ET

Saturday to Sunday, 10 A.M to 6 A.M. ET

Repro Legal Helpline

How to get in contact: 

Call 1-844-868-2812 for general legal advice.

Call 1-866-463-7533 for financial assistance via their legal defense fund.

Fill out a contact form online to be connected with a lawyer.

Submit an online application for funding.

Abortion Defense Network

How to get in contact:

Fill out an assistance form online. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $59.97
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If you use Microsoft 365, did you notice they increased their prices? It used to be $69.99 for a year. Now it's $99.99, and that's not a bill you're ever actually done paying. 

If you don't want to drop $100 every year for Word, Excel, and all the rest, then switch to a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for a one-time payment of $59.97. It might be more expensive in the moment, but it's a whole lot cheaper in the long run. 

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You have until Feb. 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for $59.97. 

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After seven years, I was done with dating apps.

OK, I wasn't. Who was I kidding? I'm not an extrovert, and I write about sex and dating for a living. My "done" with dating apps didn't look like deleting my accounts or chucking the apps in a figurative trash can. But I was done relying on dating apps alone. 

I didn't know at the time how true this would end up being, or that another social media platform would be the catalyst.

Online dating sans dating apps

It was 2021, COVID restrictions had begun to lift, and I was ready to meet a steady partner. I was 27 years old and had been on dating apps since my study abroad semester in London in 2014, when I only knew a handful of people in my program. Years later, living in New York City with a support system around me, I had no excuse. It was time to get creative and try something new.

SEE ALSO: Tinder's top dating trends and predictions for 2025

At the beginning of the pandemic, I watched a lot of YouTube and discovered Kurtis Conner, a comedian who was going on tour in October. Knowing Conner's style of online engagement, this was a chance to get a date somewhere other than "the big three": Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. Instead, I scooped two tickets to one of his Manhattan shows.

At the time, Conner frequently replied to and retweeted his fans on Twitter (it was still Twitter back then!). If I didn't find someone to ask out IRL, I'd tweet at the social media-savvy comedian to help me find a date to his sold-out show. 

As the introvert I am, I didn't find a date IRL. It was time for the next stage of the plan: tweeting.

"Is this even a good idea?" I asked my friends. I felt vulnerable tweeting that I was looking for a date, let alone having my plea retweeted by someone with millions of followers. But my friends assured me the plan was solid. With risk comes reward. 

A week before Conner's show, I tweeted:

Tweet may have been deleted

A few minutes later, a message popped up in my inbox: "Omg I'm so invested in this now (also I am free but I assume u have 7,000 applicants at this point)."

The message was from Kat Tenbarge, a fellow journalist and Twitter mutual. I didn't know Kat personally but I was impressed by her work. Between that and the fact that she's cute, I was floored that she DMed me.

"Haha well you are the first person to DM and I'd love to go with you!" I replied, two minutes later, according to screenshots. It was true. Other people did DM me later, but Kat was the first.

Tweet may have been deleted

We exchanged numbers and agreed to meet at City Winery, the show venue and a restaurant that specializes in wine and cheese.

My first date from Twitter

I, chronically early, arrived first to line up in front of the venue. I had never met Kat before, and I had the same first date jitters I always did. That was on top of the classic sapphic quandary before a first date: Is this even a date?

Kat had shared photos for Lesbian Visibility Day earlier that year, so I knew she liked women, and I was pretty vocal about my bisexuality (including writing about it for Mashable), but still. We didn't explicitly say it was a date, and while I hoped it was, I also left room for the possibility that she just wanted a new friend.

Kat, chronically late as I would later learn, arrived after me. I had noticed the line's demographic and texted her how many femmes were ahead of me before I scoped out seats by the stage for us. I ordered a cocktail to ease my nerves and a charcuterie board for us.

Once Kat arrived, we chatted for a few minutes before the show started. Our conversation flowed easily before it was cut off by Conner starting his set. Afterward, we headed to a different bar near our neighborhood in Brooklyn, finding out we lived only four subway stops away from each other. 

Before the end of the night, I was emboldened by the alcohol and asked if this was indeed a date. With a bright smile I've seen many times since, Kat confirmed that yes, it was a date. Emboldened even more, I asked if I could kiss her. Again, she said yes(!).

I left tipsy from cocktails and giddiness. Not only was it a great date, but I landed it through my creativity (and, fine, a little help from Twitter).

A few months after that, I asked Kat to be my girlfriend and was finally, actually done with dating apps. I deleted my accounts and the apps off my phone and never looked back.